Cholla
Cylindropuntia spp.

Family: Cactaceae

What it is like

Cylindropuntia spp. is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

Sandy to gravelly soils. Dry situations. In the harsher areas of the North American deserts, a Cholla may be the only cactus present where only creosote bush (Larrea tridentada) grows as its companion.

Mesoamerica. Native to the southwest and southcentral United States, Mexico, and the West Indies. Introduced to South America (Chile, Ecuador, Peru) and South Africa.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Southwest and southcentral United States, Mexico, and the West Indies. South America (Chile, Ecuador, Peru) and South Africa.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

See individual species including Opuntia.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 0

See individual species.

Other

Rating: 4

Carbon Farming Solutions - Agroforestry Services: living fence (Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland).

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Minor Global Crop: These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Climate: cold temperate to tropical. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Sandy to gravelly soils. Requires a sandy or very well-drained soil. Dry situations. In the harsher areas of the North American deserts, a Cholla may be the only cactus present where only creosote bush (Larrea tridentada) grows as its companion. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation).

Propagating it: Seed - sow early spring in a very well-drained compost. Cuttings of leaf pads at any time in the growing season. Remove a pad from the plant and then leave it in a dry sunny place for a couple of days to ensure that the base is thoroughly dry and has begun to callous. Pot up into a sandy compost. Very easy, rooting quickly.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 8-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry

Things to keep in mind

The plant has numerous minutely barbed glochids (hairs) that are easily dislodged when the plant is touched and they then become stuck to the skin where they are difficult to see and remove. They can cause considerable discomfort.

Its other names

Local names

Cylindropuntia species. Tree Chola, Cholla, Cylindrical-stemmed Opuntia, Jumping Cholla

Synonyms

Cylindropuntia was formerly treated as a subgenus of Opuntia, but have now been separated based on their cylindrical stems (Opuntia species have flattened stems) and the presence of papery epidermal sheaths on the spines (Opuntia has no sheaths).